Knitting machine



Oct. 15, 1940. o T 2,218,493

v KNITTING MACHINE Filed NOV. 5, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 15., 1940.

R. M. SCOTT KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Filed Nov. 5, 1939.

Iva 677%;-

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Oct. 15, 1940.

R. M. SCOTT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 3, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet S R. M. SCOTT KNITTING MACHINE Oct. 15,, 1940.

Filed Nov. 3, $959 5 Sheets-Sheet ,4

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I I KNITTING MACHINE I Filed Nov. 3, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. '15, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFI-icE KNI'I'TING MACHINE Roger M. Scott, Providence, R. 1., assignor to Blackstone Machinery 00,, Fall River, Mass., at

corporation of Rhode Island Application November 3, 1939, Serial N... 302.696

19 Claims.

control operating in synchronism with the reciprocating movement of one of the jacquard members.

The present improved construction while capable of general application to knitting machines, is shown in connection with a knitting machine of the flat bed type, as employed in knitting fiat material and forming any one of a variety of desired patterns in the knitted fabric.

Machines of this character comprise a plurality of thread carrying members or bars mounted for longitudinal sliding movementat desired points in the formation of the pattern to bring thread carrying elements or guides into operative relation with a needle bar in the formation of the stitches. The longitudinal movements of the thread carrying members are efiected by means of pins of different lengthscarried by the links of or arranged in series 'upon movable jacquard members located at opposite ends of the machine, which jacquard members are each adapted for progressive movement relative to and bodily reciprocating movement toward and from the opposite bar ends, the jacquard members at opposite ends of the machine moving into -bar engaging position either alternately or together.

- In machines of this kind generally, as con- I structed heretofore, it has been the practice to provide pin carrying jacquard chains of sufilcient length to include the entire design to be made including any duplications or alterations as may occur in the design. This may necessitate a chain of considerable length and require much time and labor in its construction.

The present invention reduces greatly the length .of the jacquard chains, as well as their weight, whereby they may be more easily supported, and operated with less strain on the machine, and the cost of setting up the design is ma-' terially reduced. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide greater range and flexibility in design production through the use of the reversing mechanism as shown, and by operating the same directly from one of the jacquard chains.

A further object of the invention is to provide novelmeans for reversing the direction of travel of the jacquard chains at intervals through reciprocation of one of the jacquard chains to repeat portions of the design and thereby simplify the operation and provide for reducing greatly the length and weight 01' the jacquard chains which heretofore have necessarily been of a length commensurate with the entire length of the complete design to be formed.

Another object of the invention is to provide 5 means actuated directly through the reciprocating movement of one of the jacquard members for controlling forward and reverse movements of said jacquard members through the intermediacy of an improved control mechanism which may include a pattern chain.

Another object of the invention is to prdvide reverse operating mechanism actuated by the jacquard member which may include a pattern chain; and to simplify the character of the same, whereby the pattern chain structure may be shortened in length and its construction simplifled without limiting the scope of its operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel form of ratchet member for rotating each jacquard member as well as an improved means for actuating the ratchetmembers at opposite ends of the machine in synchronism through a single control actuating means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple and efficient form of reverse actuating means adapted for actuation directly from one of the jacquard members in such a manner as to insure proper operation of the parts with certainty.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relate to various improved details of construction and novel arrangements of the parts as will be more fully set forth in the detailed description to as follow.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the knitting machine embodying the invention, showing the relative location of the thread carrying members and jacquard members together with the interconnected 40 means for actuating the jacquard members at opposite ends of the machine, certain portions of the knitting mechanism being omitted or shown only in outline. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional View of a portion of the control mechanism for operating .one of the jacquard members, taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1, I

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the control means for one of the jacquard members, taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view longitudinally of the machine, taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 2. and showing a portion of the ,control mechanism mainlyin side elevation,- v

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the parts of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4 in different operating positions,

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the control mechanism, taken substantially along the line 6-8 of Fig. 4, and,

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical system and connections employed for operating the different mechanisms.

In the form of the invention illustrated herein the same is shown in connection with a knitting machine having a main frame I comprising uprights 2 connected by transverse franre members 3 and longitudinal frame members-i4. Located at opposite ends cfthe main frame I are extensions 5 which may be connected with or made a part of the main frame, and which may comprise uprights 6 supporting longitudinally extending frame members 1 for carrying the jacquard chains and their associated mechanisms.

In the knitting machine as shown herein, various of the operating mechanismsof the knitting machine 'proper are omitted entirely or indicated only diagrammatically or as disconnected or partially disconnected elements, in order to illustrate more clearly the arrangement of the parts and the mode of operation of the improved mechanism.

The machine frame is adapted to support a needle bar 8 extending longitudinally of the machine and carrying a plurality of needles 9, suitably positioned and arranged for forming connected stitches in various thread ends, certain of which are supplied by thread guides Ill carried by a plurality of thread carrying members or thread bars l2. The thread carrying members or bars l2 extend longitudinally of the machine frame and are each provided at opposite ends with contact plates l3 adapted for engagement by suitable thread bar actuating members, such as pins l4, carried by links l5 of jacquard members or chains I6 for imparting the longitudinal movements to the thread carrying members at suitable selected intervals in the operation of the mechanism to form a desired design in the knitted fabric. The thread bars |2 are each provided with a plurality of thread guides l0, and as the thread bars are shifted back and forth intermittently by the jacquard members they cause the thread guides l to move in such a manner as to guide different threads into operative relation with certain of the needles 9 for forming stitches in accordance with a desired pattern.

The mechanism above described is of a conventional type employed in machines of this character, the detailed arrangement and operation of which is well known to those skilled in the art and need not be described more particularly with relation to the present invention.

The operation of the conventionalknitting mechanism above described as well as the control means therefor may be effected through any suitable form of power transmission, which in the present instance includes an electric motor l1 supported by a portion l8 of one end frame for driving a shaft l9 through a belt or other drive connection 20, the shaft I9 being operatively connected with a pulley 2| by a belt 22, or the like, to furnish power to a main transverse drive shaft 23 carrying the pulley 2|. Gears 24 and 25, carried by the shaft 2 a d a longitudinally extending drive shaft 26, engage to provide means'for driving the shaft 26 and operating the knitting mechanism through suitable drive connections (not shown), and at the same time transmit power to a transverse drive shaft 21 at the opposite end of the machine through intermeshing gears 28 and 29, carried by the shafts 26 and 21 respectively.

The transverse drive shafts 23 and 21 impart bodily reciprocating movement to jacquard members l8 located at opposite ends of the main frame and each supportedby one of the end frames 5.

While, in general, the jacquard members at opposite ends of the machine may consist of or comprise rolls or other rotatable or movable members adapted for movement either forwardly or reversely across their path of intersection with the thread carrying members, they are shown herein in the form of endless chains I6, each made up of a series of articulated links l5, which carry one or more pins M. The pins |4 may differ from each other in length as may be desired for imparting the requisite degree of movement to individual thread bars in order to displace each thread bar and the thread guides l0 carried thereby to the desired extent in forming the next series of stitches in the pattern.

The jacquard members located at opposite ends of the thread carrying members l2 are each adapted to be advanced, either forwardly or reversely, by means which will be hereinafter described, which advance movement' is iniated through the forward and back reciprocating movements of the jacquard members. These reciprocating movements of the jacquard members are obtained through similar drive connec-- tions from the shafts 23 and 21 respectively. The drive connections and their associated parts for operating the oppositely positioned jacquard members are similar in all respects, but are shown in detail only in connection with the jacquard member |6 located at the right of the main frame, as seen in Fig. 1, except for such portions thereof as pertain to the unified control of the forward and reverse movement of said members.

Each jacquard member or chain I6 may be supported in any suitable manner, as by shafts 30 and 3|, each shaft 30 being shown as carried by oppositely positioned rocker arm members, 32, which may be substantial duplicates of each other and located in spaced relation with each other upon opposite sides of each end frame 5. The opposed rocker arm members 32 are pivotally supported by a shaft 34 carried by the lower longitudinal frame members 1 of each end frame. Each shaft 3|, co-operating with one of the shafts 30 to support a jacquard member, may be mounted in any suitable manner upon or be supported by the rocker arm members 32, preferably in adjustable relation with the shaft 30, and in the present form of the invention, the shaft 3| at each end of the machine is shown as supported by arms 33 carried by the rocker arm members 32 and held in any one of a plurality of adjusted positions relative thereto by clamping means 33'.

The rocker arm members 32 are oscillated about the shaft 34 in unison by means of a crank arm 35 mounted on a crank 36 carried by a shaft 31. The shaft 31 is driven from the transverse drive shaft 23 by intermeshing gears 38 and 39. The crank arm 35 is pivotally connected, as at with a branched connecting member 4|, havrocker arm member 32 at the desired location to provide fixed connections between the connecting member 4| and rocker arm members 32 at points suitable for obtaining the extent of reciprocation desired of the jacquard member.

, member carried thereby within such limits as may be found desirable in practice.

The rocker arm members 32, being eachflrmly securedto one arm 42 of the branched connecting member 4|, act asa single rocker arm in reciprocating the jacquard member l5, and the points of connection for the arms 42 with the rocker arm members may be such as to provide for regulating the throw of the rocker arm and jacquard The shaft supporting the Jacquard chain l3 may be of square or polygonal cross-section throughout its central portion or provided with square or polygonal jacquard chain supporting portions in order to provide a sprocket member or members for advancing the chain IS in either a forward or reverse direction, while the shaft 3| serves merely as an idler and may carry circular sprocket wheels or other means adapted to support and maintain the jacquard chain in substan tially extended position for shaft 30. v

Opposite ends of the'shaft 30 are mounted in movement about the longitudinally extending slotted guideways (not shown) formed in the rocker arm members 32, and the shaft is rotatably mounted in guide blocks 48,'which are in turn slidably mounted in guides 49 carried by the upper longitudinal frame members 1 of the frame 5. This constructionserves to change the direction of movement of each shaft 30 and the jacquard member l5 car-- -ried thereby from an arc-shaped path to that of its subtending chord in order to insure a straight line movement of the pins l4 with relation to the contact members I3 withgwhich they engage.

A ratchet member 53 is keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 30, preferably at a point adjacent to one end thereof, and is provided with alternately arranged oppositely directly teeth 52 and 53, for a purpose which wilFb'e more fully set forth. Since, in the present instance, that portion or portions of the shaft 30 serving as a sprocket means for driving the jacquard chain is square in,..cross-section, each set of oppositely directed teeth are four in number to correspond with the four rotative positions of the shaft. The set of uni-directional teeth 52 are adapted for engagement by a suitable pawl member 55 for rotating the shaft in one direction, whilethe correspondingly positioned oppositely directed teeth 53 are similarly engageable by an opposed pawl member 53 for rotating the shaft 30 in the opposite direction.

A supporting plate 53 is bolted to the upper longitudinal frame member I, as indicated at 59,

ating member 38 is slidably mounted in bearings 53 carried by thesupporting plate 53 and is provided with slotted guides the member 53 at H for receiving the shanks 34 and 55 of the pawl members 55 and 55. Adv iustable connecting members 12 and 13. are carried by the shanks 54 and respectively and are resiliently connected with members 14 and 15, carried by the pawl actuating member 33, by means of springs 13 and TI respectively. A coiled spring 30 may be mounted upon the pawl actuating member 33 and located II and IL secured to corresponding between one of the bearings 33 and the adjacent,

member 15 or 14 to serve as a'means for moving the pawl actuating member seen in Fig. 3, when the pawl actuating member 63 is released from the which tends to raise the pawl actuating member 63 and pawl members carried thereby. v The provision of the tension springs 13- and"?! serve to insure engagement of the pawl members 55 and 55 with oppositely directed ratchet teeth 52 and 53 respectively as the pawls .are moved into or out of operative engagement with the ratchet member and the cooperating teeth carried thereby'in reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft 30. r In the operation of the mechanism above described, rotation of the drive shaft 23 serves to oscillate the rocker arm members 32 through the shaft 31, crank arm 35 and connecting link 4|; The shaft 33 carried by the rocker arm members force acting thereon downwardly, as.

32 is thereby moved toward and from the contact shaft 30 is reciprocated the ratchet member 50 carried thereby is likewise reciprocated. The shiftable pawl members and 53 are so positioned as to each engage uni-directional ratchet teeth carried by the ratchet member 50, whether the oppositely directed teeth lie in a single vertical plane, as shown, or in adjacent planes. Means hereafter described pawls 55 and 56 substantially simultaneously. As the pawl 55 is'moved into and held in engagement with the teeth 52, each movement of the shaft 30 away from the thread carrying members 12 serves to rotate the shaft 30 a distance sufficient, to bring the next succeeding row of pins l4 into position to-engagethe end contacts l3 upon serve to shift the to bring the next succeeding row of pins l4 into position to engage the contact plates l3 upon advance movement of the jacquard member toward the thread carrying members. It will be noted that movement of onepawi, 55 or 53, intoratchet engaging position moves the other pawl out of ratchet engaging position.

The means for correlating the operation of the opposed pawl members at opposite ends of the machine comprise a longitudinally; extending rock shaft 82 oscillatable in bearings carried by arms 34 extending outwardly from the, support.- ing plates 58. Arms 85 carried by the rock shaft 32 adjacent to opposite ends thereof are each provided with a slotted end 86 for receiving a pin 81 carried by a connecting member 88 adjustably mounted upon the pawl actuating member'GB at the machine.

The rock shaft 82 is adapted to be oscillated by means of an arm 90, adjustably secured to the shaft 82 by a locking means 83, and having a magnetizable core member 9I secured to the arm by a link 92 in position to be moved in one direction by a solenoid coil 93, while the rock shaft 82 is rotated in the opposite direction when the solenoid coil 93 is de-energized by the weight of the slidably mounted pawl actuating members 58 and their associated parts taken in connection with the springs 80. I

Each link of the jacquard chain or row of thread bar actuating members carried by the jacquard member, as seen at the right of the machine in Fig. 1, comprise ten actuating Pins I4, of which nine are for the. purpose of actuating nine thread bars, while the remaining pin I4, at the left, as seen from the right of the machine in Fig. 1, is for the purpose of actuating a reverse operating means for the jacquard chain. In this connection it may be noted that the mechanism provides for the employment and control of a considerably greater number of thread bars than are used generally in machines of this character, thereby-providing for the formation of a more intricate design.

The jacquard member operated reverse actuating means adapted for operation by the left hand pin I4 of the series carried by the jacquard member I6, as seen from the right of Fig. 1, may

' comprise a ratchet wheel 95 and sprocket wheel 96 adapted to be connected together in any desired axially adjusted relation by bolts 91 passed through arcuate slots 98 formed in the ratchet wheel and into a spacing collar 91' on the sprocket wheel. The slots 98 formed in the ratchet wheel 95 are located concentric with its axis of rotation and are of suflicient length to secure the desired degree of angular adjustment between the ratchet and sprocket wheels. The

ratchet wheel 95 and its attached sprocket wheel.

96 are mounted for rotation on a shaft 99, which may be fixedly held in position in a bracket IOI carried by one of the longitudinal frame members 1 of the end frame by a locking screw I00. The sprocket wheel 98 carries a pattern chain I02, which is supported thereby and by an idler sprocket I03 mounted for rotation on a shaft I04 adjustably secured in a bracket I05 carried by a portion of the transverse frame member 3.

A member I06 is mounted for oscillation on the shaft 99 adjacent to the ratchet 'wheel 95 and is provided with oppositely extending arms I01 and I08, the arm I01 carrying an advancing pawl I09 engageable with ratchet teeth IIO carred by the ratchet wheel 95 to rotate the ratchet wheel and its connected. sprocket wheel- 96. The arm I08 carries a contact plate II I in position to be engaged by the pin I4 of the jacquard member located at the left of the jacquard member, as viewed from the right hand end of the machine in Fig. 1.

As shown, the pattern chain I02 comprises a plurality of links II3, certain of which are provided with outwardly projecting lugs II4, which lugs are each adapted to engage one of a series of face pins II5 carried by a cam .wheel IIG, rotatably mounted on a shaft I I8.

The shaft H8 is secured by a locking screw screw I22; and in a similar manner the ratchet wheel 95, sprocket wheel 96 and member I08 are held against longitudinal movement on the shaft 99 by means of a sleeve I24 secured to the shaft 99 by a locking screw I25. A coiled spring I26 has one end anchored to the sleeve I24, as at I21 while the opposite end engages the arm I01 to return the arm I01 and pawl I09 to their initial position after advancing the ratchet wheel 95.

A stop member I28 may be supported by a bearing I30 which may form a part of the bracket I05 carried by the transverse frame member 3, and the stop member is maintained in longitudinally adjusted position in the bearing by means of a set screw I29, whereby the stop member is adapted to engage with and serve as an adjustable stop for limiting the movement of the arm I01 and pawl I09 after each advance movement of the pawl, thereby regulating the degree of angular movement of the ratchet wheel 95 in .terms of the number of ratchet teeth advanced with the ratchet teeth H0 and may be heldin resilient engagement therewith by a spring I33.

A holding spring I34 is also supported by the frame member 1 in position to engage certain of the face pins II5 of the cam wheel II6 to retain the cam wheel in position after each advance until again advanced by the engagement of one of the lugs II4 with a face pin H5. The cam wheel H8 is provided with alternately arranged edge cam faces I35 and depressions I38 and is mounted to engage a roll I31 carried by a switch arm I38 mounted for oscillation in a switch box I39 supported by the frame member 1. Engagement of the roll I31 byone of the cam edges I35 depresses the roll and moves the switch arm I38 to operate an electric switch I41 in the switch box I39 to close the circuit through the solenoid coil 93, whereby the rock shaft 82 is oscillated to raise the pawl actuating members 68 together with the opposed pawls 55 and 56 at each end of the machine so as to disengage each pawl 55 from its ratchet teeth 52 and at the same time cause each pawl 56 to engage operatively with the ratchet teeth 53.

Upon movement of the cam wheel II6 into position to bring the roll I31 into opposition with one of the depressed areas I36 of the cam wheel, the operation of the parts as above described is reversed. That is, the switch arm I38 rises and breaks the circuits through the solenoid coil 93. This releases the rock shaft 82, which is then oscillated in the opposite direction by the weight of the pawl supporting members 68 and mechanisms carried thereby together with the action of the springs 80, to bring the pawls 55 into engagement with their co-operating ratchet teeth 52, while the pawls 56 'are lowered to disengage them from the ratchet teeth 53.

The lugs II4 carried by the 1inksII3 of the pattern chain I02 may be regularly or irregularly distributed throughout the length of the pattern chain, that is, each fourth, fifth, sixth or other.

successively located link II3 may carry a lug II4 for engagement with one of the face pins II5 of the cam wheel, or the lugs II4 may be irregularly arranged in accordance with any desired 'pattern arrangement adapted to provide for the step-by-step movement of the cam wheel in order to secure actuation of the switch I41 at such times as, may be desired for forming the pattern. In this connection, it may be noted that actuation of the oscillatable arm I91 may be a led to impart a greater or less degree of throw to the advancing pawl IIO by adjusting the position of the stop member I23. That is, for example, assuming that the pawl I09 is set to advance the ratchet wheel 95 two teeth, as shown .in Fig. 4, the stop member .423 may be set to change the degree of advancement of the ratchet 'wheel 95 to one, three or more teeth upon each actuation of the arm I01 as may be desired. It will be seen, therefore; that plural means are provided for regulating the rate or occurrence of movement of the cam wheel H8 in addition to the frequency or lack of frequency of the location of pins I4 in the left hand course of pin actuators carried by the jacquard member, as,

viewed from the right of Fig. 1. This arrangement provides great flexibility of operation and serves to permit many dliferent combinations of cam wheel operation for the formation of a variety of designs or patterns in the knitted fabrics. In the case of many simple designs, it is "possible by means of the actuating mechanism above described to reduce the pattern chain I02 to a length, little, if any, in excess of the circumference of the sprocket wheel 93.

It will be noted also, that in the present construction there is no necessity for holding the advance operating mechanism out of operation for-a longer or shorter period during the reverse operation of the jacquard chain or vice versa, since this is accomplished automatically by the mechanismemployed. That is, the cam wheel IIS is'held in position by the holding spring I34 after each movement until it is again rotated by the pattern chain, and the engagement of the roll I 31 by a cam edge I35 or depression I36 serves by itself to retain the switch arm I38 in position to maintain the circuit through the solenoid coil 93 either open or closed, as the case may be, until further rotation of the ,cam wheel changes the direction of movement of the jacquard members.

As shown herein, electric power is employed for operating the knitting machine and its control mechanism which is obtained from a. main line circuit I40 having a main switch I suitably arranged for operation toopen or close the main circuit. From the, switch I the main circuit 'carrying'high voltage current, that is 110 to 550 movement of the switch arm I33, through a switch I41, and from the switch box I39 to a "solenoid coil I48 for moving a switch I49 to open or close the circuit I43 through the sole noid coil 93 and actuate the core member 9| to oscillate the shaft 82 through the arm 90.

Closing of the main switch I completes the circuit through the motor II to drive the various operating parts of the knitting machine mechanism through interconnected drive shafts 23, 26 and 21. Fromthe longitudinally extending .drive shaft 23 power is obtained for effecting the desired movement of the needle bar 3 through suitable drive connections (not shown). The

transverse shafts 23 'and 21 located at opposite ends of the machine serve to reciprocate'the jacquard members at opposite ends of the machine and thereby actuate the thread carrying members. i

The oscillating movement of the pawl operating rock shaft is controlled through movement of the reverse control member or cam wheel 6' actuating the switch arm I39 to open or close the switch I41 for energizing or deenergizing the solenoid coil 93 to move the opposed pawl members it and 53 into and out of operative engagement with their co-operating ratchet teeth and change the direction of movement of the jacquard members in accordance with the pattern changes desired.

In the operation of the knitting machine mechanism, the thread carrying members I2 are displaced longitudinally and in accordance with a predetermined pattern plan'for varying the positions of certain thread guides III to form a selected design, as is common in devices of this character. The thread carrying member moving means comprises jacquard members I6 located at opposite ends of the machine and mounted for reciprocation toward and from the thread carrying members, said jacquard members having selectively arranged pins I4 which-may be of different lengths and arranged in series thereon, or carried by links I5 forming parts of the jacquard members, so as to be adapted for engagement with contact plates I3 niounted on the thread carrying members I2. Engagement of the pins I4 with the contact members I3 of thread carrying members I2 during reciprocation of the jacquard members results in selective and variable displacement of the thread carrying members in accordance with the requirements of the design to be formed.

The jacquard members I6- are reciprocated toward and from the thread carrying members I2 by any suitable means, such as the rocker arm members 32 actuated by one of the transverse drive shafts through a crank arm 35, crank 36 and connecting member 4i. Reciprocation of the jacquard members located at opposite ends of the machine may be effected in I a any suitable and desired relation other.

The advance movement of the jacquard members either forwardly or reversely for continuing or reversing the design formation, may be accomplished by rotating the shafts 30 supporting the jacquard members during a part of the reciprocating movement of the jacquard members, and in each case, the proximate means employed for this purpose may include ratchet means or mem bers 59 having oppositely directed ratchet teeth 52 and 53 engageable by pawl members 55 and 56, as previously described. The pawl means employed in connection with each jacquard member are shiftable substantially simultaneously to engage one or the other of the sets of oppositely directed ratchet teeth to rotate the shaft 39 in either direction, as desired. The operation of the shiftable pawl means is accomplished directly by oscillation of the rock shaft 82 in one direction under the influenced the solenoid coil 93, or by oscillation in the opposite direction through the weight of the pawls and their associated mechanisms supplemented by the springs 89, when the solenoid coil 93 is de-ener- 'gized. The relative timing of the reverse operating mechanism at opposite ends of the machine may be obtained through angular adjustment of the arms 85 carried by the rock shaft 32.

with each The operation of the shiitable pawl means is eflected by power from the main circuit and without increasing the load on the motor II.

The reverse actuating mechanism for shifting the pawl means, as above described, includes Suitable means for energizing or de-energizing the solenoid coil 93 at appropriate points in the pattern formation and in properly timed relation with the reciprocating movements of the jacquard member. This, in the present embodiment of the invention, comprises the ratchet wheel 95, pattern wheel 96, pattern chain I 02 and pawl I09 for rotating the reverse control member or cam wheel lit to operate the low voltage switch I41 and open or close the circuit through the solenoid coil 93. The means thus provided 'are capable of operation with aminimum expenditure of power and are such as to be capable of actuating the pawl operating mechanism for shifting the pawl means with certainty and speed.

The mechanism described for bringing about operation of the pawl shifting means operates with a step by step movement through impulses imparted to the ratchet wheel 95 by the stepby-step advancing pawl I09, which pawl is actuated by the reciprocating movement of the jacquard member, and more specifically through impulses delivered by a single pin in the transverse series of pins provided for moving the thread carrying members, and oscillation of the pawl I09 serves both to change the direction of movement of the jacquard member from forward to rearward and vice versa.

ating the reverse operating mechanism insures proper synchronism of the action of the reverse operating mechanism with the reciprocating movement of the jacquard member without providing separate synchronizing means for thepurpose, and by using a single longitudinal series of jacquard member pins I4 for effecting the reverse movement of the jacquard member in each direction the width of the jacquard member is extended by a single pin only and an additional thread carrying member pin series provided. I

While any suitable means may be employed for actuating the pawl shifting means in response to impulses delivered by the longitudinal series of jacquard member pins I4 controlling the reversal of movement of the jacquard member, it is convenient to make use of a pattern member, as the pattern chain I02, in order to obtain greater variety and complexity of changes in the pattern, when desired, as well as to provide means for converting the impulses delivered by a single longitudinal series of jacquard pins so as to actuate positively the pawl shifting mechanism for effecting reversal of movement of the jacquard member in either direction.

What I claim is:

1. In a knitting machine comprising a plurality of longitudinally displaceable thread carrying bars, an endless-jacquard member mounted for forward or reverse travel and bodily reciprocating movement toward and from said bars, means for advancing said jacquard member in either direction, means for reciprocating said jacquard member, a movable pattern member, a

their respective ratchet teeth, and means includrotatable cam mounted for operative engagement by said pattern member, pawl means actuatable for advancing said pattern member, means carried by said jacquard member for displacing said thread carrying bars selectively and actuating said pawl means at intervals and during the bodily reciprocating movement of said jacquard member toward said bars to rotate said cam member through the intermediacy of said pattern member, and means actuated by said cam member for reversing the direction of travel of said jacquard member.

2. In a knitting machine comprising thread carrying members movable for incorporating different designs in a knitted fabric, means for moving said thread carrying members comprising a jacquard member mounted for forward and reverse advance movement and bodily reciprocating movement toward and from said thread carrying members, means for advancing said jacquard member,'means for reciprocating said jacquard member, a single reverse control member movable in one direction to change the direction of movement of said jacquard member in either direction, means including an element carried by said jacquard member and operable during the reciprocating movement of said jacquard member for advancing saidreverse control member, and means operated by said reverse control member for reversing the direction of movement of said jacquard member.

' 3. In a knitting machine comprising thread carrying members movable for incorporating different designs in a knitted fabric, means for moving said thread carrying members to form, a design comprising a jacquard member mounted for forward and reverse advance movement as Well as bodily reciprocating movement toward and from said thread carrying members and provided with pin means for displacing said thread carrying members, means for reciprocating said jacquard member, means for advancing said jacquard member comprising ratchet means provided with oppositely directed ratchet teeth and opposed pawl members positioned upon opposite sides of the axis of rotation of said ratchet means and shiftable in unison to bring one of said pawl members into operative engagement with one unidirectional set of said teeth and the other said pawl member out of engagement with the other unidirectional set of ratchet teeth, means for shifting said pawl members, and pin means carried by said jacquard member and operable in co-relation with said first named pin means during movement of said jacquard member toward said thread carrying members for actuating said pawl shifting means.

4. In a knitting machine comprising threa carrying members movable for incorporating different designs in a knitted fabric, means for moving said thread carrying members to form different designs comprising a jacquard member mounted for forward and reverse movement as well as bodily reciprocating movement toward and from said thread carrying members, means for reciprocating said jacquard member, a shaft ing a series of pin members carried by said jacquard member and engageable with portions of said pawl shifting means during the reciprou actuating said pawl shifting means to move the pawl means out 01' operative engagementwith the ratchet teeth extending in one direction and into operative engagement with the ratchet teeth extending in the opposite direction.

5. In a knitting machine comprising thread bars movable for incorporating difierent designs in a knitted fabric, means for movingsaid thread bars comprising separate jacquard chains located at opposite ends of said bars and mounted for forward and reverse movement as well as bodily reciprocating movement toward and from said thread bars, means for reciprocating said jacquard chains in timed relation with each other, a shaft movably supporting each said jacquard chain, ratchet means carried by each said shaft and provided with oppositely directed ratchet teeth, opposed pawlmeans engageable with the unidirectional teeth of each said ratchet means for rotating the shaft inforward or reverse direction, common means for-shifting the opposed pawl means-.at opposite ends of said thread bars into and out of engagement with their co-operating ratchet teeth including a rock shaft and means for oscillating the same, and means actuated by one of said jacquard chains during its reciprocating movement for operating said pawl shifting means.

6. In a knitting machine, thread carrying bars movable to form a design in a knitted fabric, a jacquard member mounted for ,travel in opposite directions as well as bodily reciprocating movement toward'and from said thread carrying bars and provided with means for moving one or more of said thread carrying bars dura ing each reciprocation of said jacquard member, means for reciprocating said jacquard member, means for moving said jacquard member in 0pposite directions, means for changing the direction of travel of said jacquard member comprising a cam member and a movable pattern member, having an oscillatable member co-operatively associated therewith, for actuatingsaid cam member; means carried by said jacquard member for advancing said pattern member through impulses communicated to said oscillatable member during reciprocation of said jacquard member, and means actuated by said cam member upon its operation by said pattern member for changing the direction of rotation of said jacquard member.

'7. In a knitting machine provided with a plurality of longitudinally movable thread carrying members, a jacquard member mounted for forward and reverse travel as well as bodily reciprocating movement toward and from said thread carrying members, means carried by said jacquard member for moving said thread carrying members to form a design in the knitted fabric, means for reciprocating said jacquard mempawl shifting means andchange, the direction of travel of saidjacquard member.

8. In a knitting machine having a plurality of movable thread bars, a jacquard member for moving said thread bars mounted for forward and reverse travel as well as bodily reciprocating movement toward and from said thread bars, means for reciprocating said jacquard member, shiftable means for moving said jacquard member in either of two directions, meanscomprising a pattern member and step-by-step advancing means therefor for actuating said shiftable means, and means carried by said jacquard member engageable with said pattern member advancing means for actuating said shiftable means to reverse the direction of travel of said jacquard member insynchronism with the reciprocating movement of said jacquard member.

9. In a knitting machine having a plurality of movable thread carrying members, a jacquard member for moving said thread carrying members mounted for forward and reverse travel as well as bodily reciprocating movement toward and from said thread carrying members, means for reciprocating said jacquard member, means for advancing said jacquard member comprising shiftable means for changing the direction of travel of said jacquard member, means for actuating said shiftable means comprising an electrically operated actuating means, 'control means movable for opening or closing an electric circuit through said electrically operated means, and means carried by said jacquard member operable during the reciprocating movement thereof for moving said control means to open or close the electric circuit through said elec,- trically operated actuating means for moving the shiftable means to change the direction of travel of said jacquard member.

10. In a knitting machine having a plurality ing said reversing means comprising a step-by-- step advancing member, and means carried by said jacquard member engageable with said stepby-step advancing member to advance the same in timed relation with and during selective advance reciprocating movements of said jacquard member.

11. In a knitting machine having a plurality of thread bars movable to form a design in a knitted fabric, a jacquard member mounted for forward and reverse travel and bodily reciprocating movement toward and from said thread bars, means carried by said jacquard member for moving said thread bars during the advance movements of said jacquard member toward said thread bars, means for imparting combined reciprocatory and advancing movement to said jacquard member, means for reversing the direction of travel of said jacquard member insynchronism with its reciprocating 'movement comprising shiftable pawl means, means for actuating said reversing means comprising a pawl and ratchet operated pattern member, and means carried by said jacquard member for actuating said pawl and ratchet operated pattern member during selective advance reciprocating movements of said jacquard member.

12. In a knitting machine having a plurality of thread bars movable to form a design in a knitted fabric, a jacquard chain mounted for forward and reverse travel and bodily recipro-. eating movement toward and from said thread bars, means carried by said jacquard chain for moving said thread bars during the advance movement of said jacquard chain toward said thread bar's, means for reciprocating said jacquard chain, means for advancing said jacquard chain along its path of travel comprising shiftable members, means for shifting said shiftable members to change the direction of travel of said jacquard chain comprising a cam member and pawl and ratchet means for operating said cam member, and means carried by said jacquard chain for actuating said pawl and ratchet means during selective advance reciprocating movements of said jacquard chain to operate said cam member.

13. In a knitting machine comprising thread bars movable for incorporating different designs in a knittedfabric, means for moving said thread bars comprising jacquard members located at opposite ends of said bars and mounted for forward and reverse advancing movement as well as bodily reciprocating movement toward and from said thread bars, means for reciprocating said jacquard members in timed relation with each other, means for advancing said jacquard members comprising ratchet members provided with oppositely directed teeth and opposed pawl members displaceable in unison into and out of operative engagement with oppositely directed;teeth carried by each of said ratchet members for reversing the direction of movement of said jacquard members, means for displacing the opposed pawl members at opposite ends of the machine into and out of operative engagement with their co-operating ratchet teeth in timed relation with each other comprising an oscillatable member connecting opposed pawl members at opposite ends of the thread bars, and means including an element carried by one of said jacquard members for actuating said pawl shifting means during advance reciprocating movement of said jacquard member toward said tliread bars.

14. In a knitting machine having a plurality of thread carrying members movable for forming a design in a knitted fabric, means for moving said thread carrying members comprising a jacquard member mounted for forward and reverse movement as well as bodily reciprocating movement toward and from said thread carrying members, means for reciprocating said jacquard member, means for moving said jacquard member in opposite directions comprising ratchet means and shiftable pawl means co-operating with said ratchet means, means for shifting said pawl means to reverse the direction of rotation of said jacquard member comprising a stepeby-step advancing pattern member and an oscillatable pawl means for advancing said pattern member, and means carried by said jacquard member operable during selective reciprocating movements of said jacquard member in one direction relative to said thread carrying members for. engagement with said oscillatable pawl means for advancing said pattern member with a step-bystep movement to shift said pawl means and change the direction of movement of said jacquard member. l

' 15. In a knitting machine comprising a plurality of displaceable th'read'carrying members, a jacquard member mounted for forward and reverse movement and bodily reciprocating movement toward and from said thread carrying members, means for reclproc'atingsaid jacquard member, means for advancing said jacquard member shiftable for effecting forward or reverse movement of the jacquard member, means for shifting said shiftable means to change the direction of movement of said jacquard member comprising a reverse control member, step-by-step advancing means for operating said reverse control member, and means carried by said jacquard member for displacing said thread carrying members selectively and actuating said step-by-step advancing means at intervals and during the bodily reciprocating movement of said jacquard member to move said control member into position to shift said jacquard member advancing means.

16. In a knitting machine comprising a plurality of displaceable thread carrying members, a jacquard member mounted for forward and reverse movement and bodily reciprocating movement toward and from said thread carrying members, means for reciprocating said jacquard members, means for advancing said jacquard member comprising pawl means shiftable to advance the jacquard member forwardly or rearwardly relative to. said thread carrying members, means for shifting said pawl means to change the direction of movement of said jacquard member comprising a reverse control member, means for operating said reverse control member comprising a movable pattern member and step-by-step advancing means for moving said pattern member, and means carried by said jacquard member for displacing said thread carrying members selectively and actuating said step-by-step advancing means to move said pattern member at intervals and during the bodily reciprocating movement of said jacquard member to operate said reverse control member for shifting said pawl means.

17..In a knitting machine, thread carrying reciprocating said jacquard member, means including a reverse control member movable to change the direction of movement of jacquard member in either direction, co-operating means for actuating said reverse control member including a pattern member and step-by-step advancing means therefor, and means carried by said jacquard member for advancing said pattern member through said step-by-step advancing means at intervals and during reciprocating movements of said jacquard member.

18. In a knitting machine comprising a plurality of longitudinally displaceable thread bars, a jacquard member mounted for forward and reverse movement across the ends of said thread bars and reciprocating movement toward and from said thread bars, means for reciprocating said jacquard 'member, co-operating pawl and ratchet means for advancing said jacquard member in either direction, means for shifting said pawl means to reverse the direction of movement of said jacquard member, control means for operating said pawl shifting means comprising a displaceable member, plural series of pin members carried bysaid jacquard member for displacing said jacquard member,- co-operatinz pawl and v ratchet means for advancing said jacquard membet in either direction, means for shiftingsaid pawl means to reverse the direction of movement ofsaid jacquard member, a step-by-step advancing member, plural series of pin members carried 5 by said jacquard member for displacing said thread bars, and a series of pin members carried by said jacquard member in addition to said bar displacing members for moving said step-by-step advancing member into position to operate said 10 pawl shitting means.

ROGER M. SCOTT. 

